The station was busy, traders trying to make their buy or sell something out of their inventory, civilians visiting the shops, and crew members trying to grab the supplies they needed for their ship. Markonian Outpost has been buzzing with life ever since the Blood Dilithium occurred. Sure the red stone present had slim down in the quadrant, but it only meant that there were now more specific jobs available. Blood Hunter, a person who tracks Blood Dilithium, a Red Miner, a person who mines the ore. And Dilithium traders got more aggressive in selling these rare items.

The crew of Mariner had docked with Markonian Outpost to resupply for their needs before the long journey into their deep space exploration assignment. K’Nala was one of the people who had returned to Delta Quadrant after the Blood Dilithium Operation that the Fourth Fleet had performed. She stared a bit into the crowd, the smiles and happy faces, wondering what they remembered from the incident. Easy to forget is easy to move on? K’Nala had difficulty doing so, now especially since she is in training for a command seat on the Mariner.

“K’Nala?”

A voice appeared at her side as she felt a hand on her shoulder making her look in that direction “Hmm?” She saw Drata standing there “Oh sorrrry I was daydreaming..”

“I noticed, I guess the place had left a stain on you as well?” Drata looked a bit concentrated, for him Delta Quadrant was not a place of happy memories after the whole ordeal with the Damascus. He managed to keep the ship together with Commander Valerio.

She shook her head slightly. “Nah, I just wish that Starfleet had sent us somewherrre we would be morrre useful.” K’Nala had expected Starfleet to send the Mariner to the Typhon Expanse and continue the deep exploration there. It was there that the legacy of Captain Kobahl had started and the reports she saw were impressive, to say the least. The things she found there were still talked about in some science institutions.

Crossing his arms, he nods slightly “I guess everyone had different expectations. But most of the crew that played a role in the Blood Dilithium was wishing any place than this” Drata looked around a bit “But life continues even of such proportion.”

“What is better? Being here or being back in Alpha where Starfleet Command mess is still being cleaned up?” A voice appeared from their side as they both saw Asipa standing there with a gift bag “I understand the double feeling of being here, but I have that same feeling being back in Alpha. I am still not feeling great being taken over by the Borg you know” She was one of the poor souls who had to endure the agony of being controlled by the Borg during the Frontier Day.

K’Nala smiled and nodded “Yeah, Captain Kobahl has refused to tell us what happened orrr what we did during ourrr break away from reality. People died and most likely by ourrr hands, but all footage has been classified as Starfleet didn’t want to create a fleet-wide panic”

“Or resignation wave…just the idea knowing you killed your fellow crewmate would not sit well with me” Asipa pointed out “So it does nag in the back of my head”

Giving a slight nod to that “I think everyone is dealing with that idea” Drata pointed out “Well you got what you wanted?” He looked at the gift bag that Asipa was holding onto as If her life depended on it “Your brother right?”

“Yea he has been asking for this for so long. As the man in the house he feels that it is my duty as a woman to get it for him” Asipa felt irritated by that.

“You can simply ignorrre his request, and if he makes an issue out of it you can redirect him to me?” K’Nala smiled softly at Asipa. “Because that is harassment on so many levels. You are not a second standarrrd and equal to everyone else”

She sighed “Let us say that Ferengi culture is a complicated one when it comes to that, especially in our household” Asipa wanted to roll her eyes. “But this is something I can’t change, they see my entrée to Starfleet more beneficial profit event for them that will bare fruit on a later date” She felt disgusted by being used as a tool for them and tried to ignore it.

“PLEASE ANYONE HELP ME” a voice cried out at the side of the Starfleet group that made them look in the direction of a woman on the floor begging towards traders that tried their best not to have a scene created. “Please help me get my family back”

“Ma’am I have told you already, I am not risking my ship to the cursed place. Many have lost their lives already by going there!” A trader spoke upholding his leather bag tidily.

Another man that stood there also “I am sorry, but my ship is not available also. I have also lost close friends that went savaging in that place, and they were lost forever” A sad facial expression was there as they both left the woman behind who started to cry.

K’Nala felt conflicted by the scene. No one paid attention to her. Drata and Asipa also looked around seeing that everyone passed the woman by. “Let us go” K’Nala spoke as Drata tried to stop her, but it was too late. K’Nala stood still at the side of the woman. “What help do you require ma’am?”

The woman looked up in full confusion and happiness that someone heard her plead for help. “I …I need someone to go to L’Talia Outpost and bring back my husband and son. The base has been out of contact for a month now.” Tears were still rolling down her cheek “Please, I beg of you, help me get my family back”

“We will give you assistance.” K’Nala smiled at her and placed her hand on her back as if comforting the woman. “Starfleet is herrre to assist. Please tell me yourrr story”

“You better watch your promise, Starfleet. That place is cursed. People that go there vanish from this space as if they do not exist” A drunk trader spoke up, looking at them. “L’Talia is cursed, and you do well to stay away from that place. Heed my warning”

K’Nala looked at the woman and ignored the man. “Please give me all the details that we requirrre to know of this place and yourrr family” Drata looked in the distance at the situation and just looked at Asipa, knowing that Captain Kobahl would dislike this lot.